ANIMAL FEED & AQUACULTURE

What is the need to use minerals in Animal Feeds?

 

• Binder – Minerals can help to bind pellets together and reduce the dust content.

 

• Anti-Caking Agent – The high surface area of many clay minerals helps to coat sticky ingredients such as molasses and reduce caking of the finished pellets.

 

• Mycotoxins – Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi. There are numerous mycotoxins, all of which are complex organic structures based on benzene rings. The most common are: Aflatoxin B1; Deoxynivalenol; Ochratoxin; Zearalenone and Fumonisin. Aflatoxin is the most prevalent and presents the most problems. Clay minerals are affective at removing it (>90% efficiency). Aflatoxin bonds ionically with -ve charges on the clay and passes harmlessly through the animal’s system.

 

• Poultry Excrement – Clay minerals added to the poultry feed will thicken the feces by absorbing moisture, helping to reduce the burns and making it easier to clean the pens.

 

• Radionuclide Containment – Some Clay Minerals have the ability to absorb Radioactive Caesium (Cs137) such that some of it is excreted rather than absorbed by the animal.

 

• Pest Prevention – Some minerals can help to kill pests such as mites which infect grain etc. stored in silos.

 

• Pellet Production Rate – Platy clays act as a lubricant as feed mix is extruded through a stainless-steel die. Significant cost savings can be made either by running with reduced power at the same throughput or at normal power with increased throughput.

 

• Adsorption – Some minerals can absorb ammonia which is beneficial in Aquaculture. They even can absorb the odor as well. Because of this they are even used in Cat litter.